I am so excited to be continuing on with my sewing for 2019. I have lots of plans to try new things and to bring back some of my favorite makes from the past 4 years.

To start 2019 I have selected 9 patterns to make that are garments I haven’t made in the past. These items will be made throughout the year along with others, but I wanted to showcase these as the ones that are on my list. Below you will find my list, they are not in any special order, but I have started the activewear pattern as part of the Activewear Challenge on the pattern review website, details can be found here.

The Jacket is almost complete, just need to add the sleeves and the zipper. The zipper frightens me, but it is one of the things on my list of challenges that I must conquer. The pants are a little tricky with the side pieces, but I think I have it figured out. I installed the side pieces by way of the Pattern instructions and it didn’t turn out like it should have, so I am going to take it out and do it again. Practice makes perfect, right?

Look for a blog post in the upcoming week for the finished garments for pattern #M7482.

I am most excited about making the underwear. These patterns have been on my list for the last 2 years or more and I keep adding them to the list and taking them off, adding them, taking them off. This time they stay, I will never know what skills I don’t have if I don’t at least try.

Well I am off to go start of the process of installing in the zipper and the sleeves on the jacket. The weather is raining and extremely windy tonight, so I think it is safe for me to stay behind the sewing machine.

I can’t believe it is almost the end of 2018. Where did the time go? I thought my biggest challenge would be sticking to the Ready to Wear Challenge, hosted by Goodbye Valentino. Well it wasn’t, my biggest challenge was blog writing. I feel as though I have hit a wall, when it comes to coming up with content to write. I have been doing some research and looked at a few online blog content websites to help me out. I think I got it now.

I am a member of a local blogging community here in Sacramento, Ca, called the Blog Bloc. The Blog Bloc holds monthly mixers and events related to blogging. Although I was unable to attend all the events in 2018, busy training for Marathons, I did catch one that has helped me with my blog writing. The November Mixer: Content Planning Workshop with Melissa Camilleri was awesome. Lots of ideas on where to get blog topics, monthly planning, and so much more. So with that said, I will be incorporating all the things I have learned into my blog posts starting January 2019. Including a monthly schedule of photos on location. That part makes me excited.

A lot has happened in 2018, a lot of SEWING!!! I was so proud of all the finished projects that I was able to accomplish. How did I get so many done? I made time. Sewing has become like my second job, but in a fun way. I do love my day job too.

Some projects were hard to finish and lay in the Unfinished Object (UFO) basket, I do plan on going back to those projects in the summer, as most of them are summer garments.

Here is my collection from 2018. (Lots of pictures)

I was also the proud 3rd place winner of the Fabric Mart photo challenge this summer. You can read the blog post here. I love a good Instagram challenge, it keeps me on my toes and more often than enough it makes me remember what I want to do for my next project. My prize for winning the challenge was 2 patterns of my choice, which I still have on my to do list.

The last few projects I have on my sewing table right now are PJ’s and a coat. I am working slowly on the coat with it being my first fully lined coat, I want to be sure to go at my own pace. No need to rush it and have to take it apart.

I am making several pairs of PJ’s and lounge wear tops for the next month or so. One can never have too many PJ’s. I have them all cut out and ready to sew. Hopefully I will get them done in the next few days or so.

When I purchased this pattern last year, I purchased it to make either View C or D. Never would I have thought that I would wear a circle skirt styled dress. The dresses I make and the ready to wear ones that I have purchased in the past typically are bodycon style. Well I made View A, thinking outside the box, and trying something new, well I ABSOLUTELY love this dress.

I had a hard time getting pictures taken tonight, I usually take them outside using my tripod with my camera, but it was dark when I arrived home and I didn’t want to be outside in the dark by myself. SO I grabbed my camera and the tripod and set it up in my dining room, well the tripod connector that holds the camera in place broke right off. Didn’t let that stop me, I placed the camera on the bookshelf and it worked. Next time I wear this dress I will be sure to get some photos outside in the light.

While making this dress last night to wear to work today, I took photos of the steps as I constructed it. I discovered that this pattern would also make a great wrap top. One girl can never have too many tops. One alteration I made was that I sewed down the front where the two bodices meet as I didn’t want to have to keep readjusting the opening when I decided to do that I turned under the neckband and stitched it down.

The fabric I used is from Fabric.com, unfortunately this print is no longer available. If my mind serves me right, I paid $3.00 per yard and I used every single scrap of it on this dress, it was just enough.

I do plan on making another dress in View A and then View C and D as well. I already have the fabric selected. I posed the question on my Instagram Account and also in a few of the Facebook Sewing groups as to which fabric I should use and the top answer was #2, which is the one I made here and then a lot of the responses, was Make them all. The one response that stuck out was make them all, as each fabric would give the same dress, a different look. Who doesn’t want a new dress to wear every week?

This was an easy make all except for the hood, for some reason, I couldn’t get it to line up. I pinned it about 3 times, seems to be that I am having issues with the neckbands, collars, and hoods lately. I may need to revisit some of my books for some tips, especially when sewing with knits, you can never learn to much with sewing even when you think you know it all.

Front VIew

Back View

I used a knit fabric that I found on a day trip to San Francisco, CA with my husband. Day trip, who am I kidding? I went there just to visit the fabric store. The Store is called The Fabric Outlet. It the closest fabric store to me that has a variety of fabrics other than Joann or Hobby Lobby. I could take a weekend trip to the Fashion District in Los Angeles, CA, but I have enough fabric for a while. Thinking of going on a fabric fast (NO purchasing of fabric for 2019) with a twist. The twist would be that I could purchase fabric only after all of other fabric is gone. I plan on sewing a lot more in 2019, so it may be possible to use all of what I have and if I do, my plan would be to purchase only what I need for the next projects.

I choose to sew View C for the purpose of the hood and the front pocket, not so sure I like the hood on my head. I have never worn anything on my head. No hats, no wigs, no nothing. I am considering some wigs just to mix things up, who knows I may become someone else in the process. LOL!!!!

I should re-evaluated and measured the pocket from top to bottom, so it could have been the correct place like a hoodie should be. More than likely I am going to take this one apart and move the pocket up. Lord knows, nothing ever fits me, at 4’11” everything has to be altered to fit me, one of the main reasons I sew for myself.

Pattern Description: Misses’ Knit Dresses and Tunics

Pattern Sizing: xs-xl

Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?Yes, it was exactly what I had visioned in my head once it was all done.

Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes the instructions were very easy to follow.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I liked the whole project until it came time to attach the hood, this is an issue I have with hoods, collars, and neckbands when sewing with knits. It was nothing with the pattern or the instructions.

Fabric Used: Cotton Knit

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I didn’t make any alterations, although I should have measured the placement of the pocket before attaching. It is a little low for someone of my height.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes I am going to put it on my list to sew again in a little bit heavier knit to wear on colder days. This one is fine, but definitely needs a long t-shirt and leggings under it for cold days.

Conclusion: It is a great project and a great addition to my wardrobe of Me Made Garments.

This Misses’ Poncho is great for the cold weather we have been experiencing in California. Finally it is cold enough to wear Ponchos, Capes, and Sweaters, and I absolutely love it. I choose view B as my option for this Poncho. It is a loose fitting poncho that has 4 different front variations. I liked the neckline on this one, as it isn’t a full turtleneck neckline and it can be worn dressed up or dressed down. I like versatility in the clothing that I make. I need everyday and work wear clothing in my line up.

The fabric choice for this Poncho was a Perfectly Plaid Acrylic Fabric – Black and Red from Joann Fabric. I feel in love with this fabric when I saw it in the store. It was the best choice for this project, although I love how it turned out. The pattern recommended a fabric with a moderate stretch, a knit with 35 % Cross Grain stretch and this Acrylic lacked that stretch. Without the stretch it restricts movement just a little bit. I let out the darts just a tiny bit and that fixed the issue.

This Poncho will get lots of wearing time this year. I can see it with a black pencil, long sleeve black top, and a red pair of boots or booties. I have all these items in my closet already, oh wait did I just find an outfit to wear to a possible Holiday Party , a Girls’ Night Out, or a date night with the hubby. It can also be worn as I have styled it here, knee high boots, black leggings, and long sleeve black top. Cute and comfortable. This poncho is giving me some serious Holiday Season Vibes.

I have needed tops in my wardrobe line up for sometime. With me still doing the Ready to Wear Challenge, I couldn’t purchase any as part of the Challenge. I had already picked this top to make, when Leslie Bentley, Master Teacher over at The Sewcial Place on Facebook, announced that she was doing a free Sew-Along for a limited time. The tutorial can now be purchased if interested in making this top under her fabulous direction.

McCall’s 7836 Misses’ Tops

Please excuse the writing on the pattern, as I write on them, so I don’t forget which view I am making or if I made alterations to the view. In this case I didn’t use the sleeve on View D. I wanted this top for the Fall/Winter weather.I went with the Bodice on View B and Sleeve on View C. I am not a fan of the close up neck on tops. I have really short hair and it just looks weird on me when wearing a mock or turtleneck top. In case I actually like this one.

I used a knit fabric, that looks like denim, it is super soft and I absolutely love how it feels. It is not to heavy or too light and can be worn with or without a sweater. The one thing that I didn’t like about the top was the flair at the bottom. I probably could have gotten away with cutting a smaller size. I cut the size 10. To avoid the top looking too big for me, I tucked only the front into my pants. I think its cute. I thought how could I style this top for a cute everyday or a casual Friday outfit for work. I styled it with a pair of Sam Edelman riding style boots from last season and a pair of white leggings, that are lined and perfect for winter that I purchased from Nordstrom

I haven’t decided if it is one I’ll make again, now that it’s finished. It’s possible it could be a one time make. I think it came out very well, but I am not in love with it, as I am with some of the other pieces I have made in the past. Tops are definitely on my to do list and there will be more coming soon.

McCall’s 7833, this dress is EVERYTHING. I know I say I love all my dresses, but this one has stolen my heart. There are 4 variations of this dress on the pattern. View A is a short sleeved short dress, View B is a long sleeved short dress, View C is a long sleeve long dress, and View D is a sleeveless long dress with a thigh high split. I will be making View D next in Red of course.

I made view A for my dress. With me being short, I went for the short version, this way I didn’t have to spend much time on alterations to the length. I was happy with the results. The fabric choices for this pattern are Two-way Stretch Knits (50% Cross Grain): Velvet, Jersey, Interlock, and Rayon Spandex. I used a Black Velvet fabric from Hobby Lobby that can be found Here. With the Holidays fast approaching, I thought it was fitting to make it in Velvet. I made a size 12 and it fits just the way I imagined it in my head, now to find somewhere to wear it. Who’s having a party? Can I get an invite?

McCall’s 7833

I paired the this dress with Red accessories, lips included. Shoes are Jessica Simpson, worn only for the sake of these photos.

Handbag $8.99 at Burlington Factory. The jewelry I am wearing was a Christmas gift from my Granny Sammie about 3 or 4 years ago, it is priceless. My Granny has always had style and class. I learned from some of the best women on how to be classy without showing too much. I come from a family of strong women.